Canadian DUers and Health Care Reformers: My Brother as Health Care Debate

[RadiationTherapy]

My brother is a cancer survivor of over 15 years. In 1996, at age 24, he received the highest doses of radiation therapy permitted at the time to destroy a malignant, nasal-pharyngeal tumor that was weeks or months from killing him. He survived and we went on together forging legend and living Life. Through those post-cancer years, he was uninsured because of his pre-existing condition and as the radiation pressed on, the delicate tissues of his nose, mouth and throat burned and scarred. Beginning in 2001, he eventually lost his breath, his hearing, his voice, his ability to swallow, and his ability to form words because of a paralyzed tongue. He now has a permanent trach to breathe, a g-tube to eat, and we all do the best we can when it comes to communicating.

Last year we learned that we are Canadian by birth and "entitled to all the rights and privileges of Canadian citizenship." (We have gone through the process and have our Proof of Citizenship) I would like him to move up to Canada (I have a family and would have to follow later on) and begin to receive health care up there. While I do not know if they can help him with any of his current ailments, I have no reason to believe the radiation is stopping. His teeth are rotting (dead saliva glands) and there is some kind of nerve damage or something withering his left arm.

Can anyone let me know how to begin? Are there long waits? Should we make an appointment somewhere before going up? We live in Arizona and our finances are meek; is it truly worth it to explore this option? We are all more than willing to move up there, someday, to become a part of their economy and pay taxes. I just want the best care possible for my brother, but am unsure how to begin or if the costs of doing so will be worth it. He just paid $120 he didn't have for a new trach tube because the old one was cracking and rotting. My thanks for any comments, questions, answers, advice, encouragement, or whatever else you've got.

Also, I know how to produce videos, and maybe there is a documentary here?

[auntAgonist]

1. To the best of my knowledge (Canadian living in the USA)

If I return to Canada I have to wait 6 months to qualify for health care in Ontario. (according to another post the wait is 3 months. Thanks for the correction)

I don't know what the waiting period is in other provinces if indeed there is a waiting period.

aA.

Edit to add this : http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/after-health.asp

Waiting for health insurance coverage to begin

Depending on which province or territory you decide to make your new home, you may have to wait a period of time before you are eligible for public health insurance. During this time, you should apply for temporary private health insurance coverage.

Private insurance companies are listed in the yellow pages of the telephone book, usually under Insurance. You must buy this private insurance within five days of arriving in your province or territory or insurance companies may not provide coverage for you.

Refugee claimants who cannot afford private health insurance and refugee claimants living in provinces that have a three-month waiting period can receive emergency and essential health services at no cost. The cost for these services is covered by the Interim Federal Health Program.

[RadiationTherapy]

4. Thank you very much for this important information. We will have to plan accordingly.

I think my brother would feel better about living there a while before care begins because he has expressed concern about not having lived/payed taxes there.

[SidDithers]

2. Some answers for Ontario...

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ohip/default.aspx

Eligibility
Ontario residents are eligible for provincially funded health coverage (OHIP). Generally, to be eligible for Ontario health coverage you must :

be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or among one of the newcomer to Canada groups who are eligible for OHIP as set out in Ontario’s Health Insurance Act ; and
be physically present in Ontario for 153 days in any 12-month period; and
be physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days immediately after establishing residency in the province; and
make your primary place of residence in Ontario.
OHIP coverage normally becomes effective three months after the date you establish residency in Ontario. The ministry strongly encourages new and returning residents to purchase private health insurance in case you become ill during the OHIP waiting period.

Other provinces would probably be similar, but check Provincial government pages to confirm.

Edit: Ontario FAQ here: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ohip/ohipfaq_mn.aspx

Hope that helps.
Sid

[RadiationTherapy]

5. Great. Thank you.

[DeathToTheOil]

3. Canadian health care is not monolithic, as it is administered province-by-province

But the national Health Canada site is probably the best place to start:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php

I hope that's helpful, eh?

[RadiationTherapy]

6. I appreciate the info. Merci.

[auntAgonist]

7. I wanted to add my best wishes to your brother and to your family as you embark

on this journey.

aA

[RadiationTherapy]

10. Thank you for your kind words.

[riverbendviewgal]

8. Good luck

I am American born but now a Canadian citizen. I came up in 69 with my husband. We never wanted to return to live in America and the main reason is the health care system.

I don't know how much it would cost for the time period wait for private insurance This depends on what province you choosel. Not all medical equipment or drugs is covered by the health care system. I am Ontario. My own private drug/dental/eye plan does not cover pre-existing conditions...I tried to upgrade my insurance plan when realizing the plan I chose after retiring early from my workplace was not covering costs of all my meds. If I upgraded, the drugs I was covered for would not be covered as that is considered pre-existing conditions...Yes, we have prick private health insurance here too.

Do your research for the best province, and what is covered and also consider the costs of living in that province. I think I read somewhere that the costs and availability of prescription drugs are less in British Columbia.

I live in rural north Ontario. Doctors come and go up here but my town has a clinic that usually 5 doctors work out of. We also have a hospital. For major surgery or MRIs we are often sent to facilities 200 - 300 km away and the health care system pays for our gasoline and sometimes motel rooms with travel grants.

I moved up here from Toronto which has awesome facilities but there is a shortage of doctors. My son and husband both had cancer at the same time and were treated in Toronto. They got the best of care and it didn't cost of anything except for parking fees for the hospital. Even palliative care was free.

Good luck.

[RadiationTherapy]

9. Thanks for all of this important information. I appreciate it very much.

[Swede]

11. I live in Saskatchewan,but,sorry I don't know what the wait time is.

Oops,forgot the link

Here is a link to Health Saskatchewan.

Your brother should not worry about working or paying taxes here,he's Canadian and is entitled as far as I'm concerned.

http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/

[JBoy]

12. You've got some good info already

"Working" and "paying taxes" is irrelevant to health care in Canada. Some provinces have nominal monthly fees for basic ("medically necessary&quot coverage. Most full-time employees would have these paid as part of their benefit package. In BC, for example a single person would have to pay $60/month if not covered by an employer. If your income is low enough, a portion or all of this would be free, on a sliding scale.

I think most provinces have a minimum residency requirement (like 3 months). Typically this is for inter-province migration, so for the first 3 months of your residency the province you left would continue covering you. Not sure if the same applies to those repatriating.

Don't underestimate the potential to be a "special case". If you think you want to come (back) to Canada, once you know what province you're destined for, write a letter to the Health Ministry of that province, explaining the circumstances, and ask if you can get coverage from Day 1. The worst that can happen is they'll say you have to wait some period of time.

On the idea of a documentary, that sounds like something the CBC might be interested in. There's a program called "The Fifth Estate" (sort of 60 Minutes - like). Here's how to contact them with your story idea: http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/content/contact/

Good luck!

[RadiationTherapy]

13. Thanks for all of this info and inspiration. I will learn more and plan accordingly.